By Sarah Schafer North Dakota and Minnesota residents are no strangers to spring flooding, but record-high waters this year due to snow melt and rainfall are beginning to wear on LCMS pastors and members — particularly in small towns and rural…

After a four-month hiatus, the Braille, large-type, and audiocassette versions of The Lutheran Witness are back in production, thanks to a grant from LCMS World Relief and Human Care. “I was surprised and overwhelmed with joy when I got the…

With discussion of “Church in a Post-church Culture,” to a historical perspective on structure, to proposals for restructure, the Feb. 21-24 meeting of the LCMS Council of Presidents looked at several facets of how the Synod assists congregations in effective…

As the only seminary-sponsored team to compete in the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference, “Concordia Seminary Cycling” isn’t doing too badly. The six-member team, in its second year, currently ranks 8th out of 15 Division 2 schools, according to Dr. Jeffrey…

By Michelle Bauman Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, came home to Seymour, Ind., on March 4 — with a message of unity and mission for Lutheran schools. Her first stop was to bring greetings to the more than 1,400 grade- and high-school…

By Roland Lovstad Like a smoke alarm or a fire extinguisher, the LCMS dispute-resolution process is a tool the church prefers not to use, but proves valuable when the need arises. Recently trained as a “reconciler” for the process, Caitlin…

Rebuilding New Orleans I recently returned from Camp Restore in New Orleans, completing a week of mission work that I consider both successful and frustrating.  It was successful because 66 people from nine congregations of the Northern Illinois District of…

The Commission on Worship’s study of 100-plus contemporary songs By David Johnson Endeavoring to faithfully address 2007 Synod Convention Resolution 2-02A, “To Provide Guidance and Direction for Use of Diverse/Contemporary Worship Resources,” the LCMS Commission on Worship sought to begin…

Dr. Robert Roegner announced his resignation as executive director of the Synod’s Board for Mission Services, effective Nov. 16, citing his desire to return to “a more hands-on ministry.” The board appointed Nov. 19 Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder of Baileys…

LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick Nov. 5 congratulated the people of California, Arizona, and Florida for their successful efforts to preserve traditional marriage for the good of civil society and for the protection of children. Voters in all three states…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. A newly formed advisory committee of young adults wants to help Synod congregations reclaim what has been called “a missing generation” among church rolls nationwide and in the Missouri Synod — young adults in their 20s and…

LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick has been emphasizing the Synod’s strong support for natural marriage in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 national election. Particular emphasis is being given to states with marriage amendments on the ballot — Arizona,…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Two years ago, Ida Mall, who served as president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) from 1991 to 1995, received a letter from Synod President Gerald Kieschnick asking her to consider serving as an “ambassador”…

Wittenberg project I have been following with interest the formation of the International Lutheran Welcome Center (ILWC) in Wittenberg [covered in Reporter articles including the February commentary], and looked forward to seeing what progress had been made as I made…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. MINNEAPOLIS — In a positive sense, it could be said that the ninth triennial Lutheran Education Association Convocation here April 24-26 was “all wet.” For instance, its theme was “Fountains of Faith and Knowledge”; its 3,600 educators and…

Synod President Gerald Kieschnick is urging LCMS leaders to continue dialogue about matters on which there is theological unity and division in the Synod. He makes that appeal in a presentation titled “Theological Unity and Division in The Lutheran Church–Missouri…